Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-09
ASAKUSA TEMPLE.
A VISIT TO THIS FAMOUS PLACE
NEAR TOXIC.
The Romance and History of Will
Adams, and the Shrine Which
Perpetuates His Memory,
[REcoRD- UNION Correspondence
nnu-1n Eohrnnru 10 1857


the Mainici Neios for Asakusa. That sem
tence hardly seems possible to be truthiully
written, but yet right here in the capital OF
the Mikado there are not only horse-cars
and newspapers, but telegraphs and tailors,
all at work furiously for change, let US
hope for better, though we dread for worse
As crossed the Ni-hom Bashi Japan
Bridge), from which distances are reckoned,
a name came to my mind, that of Will
Adams, whose land this formerly was, and
for whom it is called the Amin Che, amin
meaning pilot. Inever knew much about
the pilot VIII Adams, until the other day l
visited Yokosuka and found his grave.
About three hundred years ago a vessel
with this Englishman on board as pilot
came to Kin-shin and whether Adams was
taken to Toxic as captive, or voluntarily,
do not know, nor can | form any opinion
until l learn the character of the wife ne
is said to have left in England; however,
he remained and his ship went home.
Trying matrimony for a second time he
settled here by the river and was made by
the Shotgun a Governor of Henri. In 1920
OF nt U1Gu anu WIG ahN SiilANA III
were left, son and daughter, from whom
there are japanese now descended. His
wife soon died and they were both buried
on the hill near Yokosuka, not far from
Yokohama. His monument is without
any mark but is kept in repair and had
flowers before it the day l visited 1t. A
street with little brick houses where toys
of all kinds are exposed for sale leads up
to the entrance gate to
THE GREAT AsAKUsA TEMPLE.
The temple and the surrounding grounds,
being a favorite resort, are always filled
with holiday-makers and their country
cousins, who may well cape in wonder at
the enormous mass of wood and bronze
and the display of gliding and color. All
about the temple and the trees are myriads
of pigeons, as tame as household pets,
which come to you to be fed with the corn
which is to be bought from the many old
women whose stalls are to be seen under
the paper umbrellas on every side. The
effect upon the beholder when he first
looks up at the graceful curves of the roof
is of admiration, which deepens to awe as
he begins to appreciate the immensely.
Ascending the steps, one sees people at
prayer, with hands pressed palm to PLAN,
touching to see in their earnestness. God,
our God, will surely hear the prayer, even
through Buddha, when the prayer is hon
est and from pious heart. An example
of faith cure is sometimes to be had here
at the right of the main altar, but o1tside
the chancel rail, is
STATUE OF BIEDZURU.
This statue is quite rubbed out of all re-
semblance to the human form, for if one is
ill he has only to rub the part of this image
corresponding to The afflicted member, and
he becomes whole. Instances of success
are cited. l saw a mother with her little
child rub the forehead of Bindzuru, and
then rub that of the sleepy little fellow by
her side.
Bindzuru was famous and holy follower
of Buddha, but one day seeing beautiful
woman he simply called attention to her,
which was quite shocking-in fact, so very
shocking tha poor Bindzuru has never
been inside of the church rail since. pat
led him myself in sort of friendly way,
for there were lots of awfully pretty girls
about looking at the pictures and at me
with equal curiosity. The panel pictures
are some of the best have seen, and appeal
at once to a European taste. One of a
lone. riderless horse was full of pathos, but
as it was votive offering hung among
hundreds of cheap prints or straw and pa
pers bundles, | could learn nothing of it.
Doubtless there is as pathetic story con-
nected with the old gray horse as could be
told
Here is shrine where women come to
pray for man-that is. l mean. pray to
get man. Nobody seemed to be in need
of such a creature to-day, for the shrine
was deserted. Perhaps some of the women
at the far end of the temple had their
thoughts at the place, for l confess it
would look little odd to see one Just in
front of it pouring forth her heartfelt sup
plication. 1t all seemed quite comical TO
me until remembered that in some coun-
tries, where | am more familiar, prayer
and Sunday evening lectures are
often with the same intent.
LOOKING FOR A RELIGION TO ADOPT.
l bought little tablet of the Goddess
Kwanon for my own good, but afterward
learned that the possession of it can be of
benefit to women only They have the
little image about two inches high, which
was fished up from the sea more than
twelve hundred years ago, and all on ac-
count of this diminutive affair this enor-
nous temple was raised. 1t reminds me of
a friend at home, who, having had a pair
of andirons given him, built a house to
out them in. The carved beams, covered
with gold and colored lacquer, and the
rich appointments of the affairs. attest the
wealth of this Monte sect, which is now,
however, falling away since 1t has lost
Government support.
The Court has no religion just now, and
is looking around for the best (most profit
able from worldly view among the many
which have been brought over and are
offered by the religion hucksters who
throng the country. 1t angers me to see
these glorious structures falling to decay.
The present change is not in the least due
TO the missionary influence. 1t would
have come without that; but the continual
squabble going on among the numerous
sects of so-called Christians will do more
to make an stheistic government
than anything else The japanese. as in
dividual and nation, is, | fear, soulless,
and without depth of character. He is
like the beautiful lacquer of lis own
country, fine TO look at, brilliant, rejecting
all things and absorbing nothing. Some
LACQUER will last forever, and much OF it
chips and peels away but, good or bad it,
is after all only varnish.
Is JAPAN TOO PROGRESSIVE?
The Counts Ito and Inouye, the first
men of Japan who have called forth the
admiration OF the world by their pro-
gressive ideas, have now gone too far, and
there must soon appear some conservative
men TO oppose them. A war with China,
or some such event, may be the means of
displscing them; and hope from some
cause this blind rushing into foreign no.
tons simply because they are foreign will
be stopped The good Empress Haruko,
respected and admired by all, must needs
now play the fool and order her dresses of
foreign fashion from Paris. cramp the waists
of her court into sixteen-inch corsets, stuff
them and pinch them, curl them and friz-
zle them until all the natural beauty is
gone and the graceful robes of the past are
replaced by the miserable lies from over the
sea. a change is not always progress. and
especially when that change turns besuti-
full women and well-appearing men into a
eonapauv of apes The good Haruko.